Columbus Dispatch's database of Ohio educators disciplined by the ODE

The Columbus Dispatch kicked off a four-day investigative series Oct. 14, 2007 on Ohio’s flawed system of disciplining and tracking teachers, coaches, aides, counselors and administrators. In The ABCs of Betrayal, the newspaper also made available on its Web site a searchable database of Ohio educators disciplined since 2000.

The newspaper’s 10-month investigation found that a state and local discipline system allows educators in the classroom despite misconduct that includes theft, assault and abuse of children. Teachers' rights are often put first, districts don't always communicate with the state, and the Department of Education shields records of wrongdoing.

Since 2000, Ohio disciplined 1,722 educators, with two-thirds of those sent back to their classrooms or allowed to take teaching jobs. Theft was the most common reason for discipline with 405 cases, followed by assault or disorderly conduct with 341 cases, sexual misconduct with 292, and drugs and alcohol with 179.

The state's database, which The Dispatch obtained and is making available to the public, allows you to search for disciplined teachers by name, school district or ZIP code. The department maintains this database internally but does not provide a searchable version on its public Web site.

The records contain the type of discipline: denial, revocation or suspension of license; a written reprimand known as a "letter of admonishment"; or a "consent agreement" that requires steps to keep a valid license.

In addition, the records list the Education Department's limited description of the teacher's offense. Some say the details are "confidential by statute," although the state attorney general says the department is violating the state public-records laws by shielding some of the "confidential" information.

The department's data does not indicate when the misconduct happened or other basic details. It also does not indicate whether or when an educator fulfilled the terms of consent agreements.